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Box Score 2 by Kevin Buczek
MOUNT OLIVE, N.C.-Sophomore outside hitter Alx Draughan had a match-high 12 kills to highlight play for the inaugural Barton College men's volleyball play in a 3-0 (25-14, 25-19, 25-22) non-conference loss to host Mount Olive College in the MOC Festival Friday afternoon in Kornegay Arena.
The Bulldogs (0-1) held leads in the second and third sets against a Trojans (1-0) squad that is selected to win the 2012 Conference Carolinas title based upon the preseason head coaches' poll.
Draughan – a transfer from Kean University – ripped his 12 kills on 26 attempts. Freshman Zach McCalla added six spikes.
Draughan and McCalla each made four digs for the young Bulldogs squad that features seven freshmen, two sophomores and just one senior.
Freshman Jordan Robison, who was recruited as an outside hitter, had a solid performance in the setter role for Barton due to injuries. Robison finished with 18 assists in his collegiate debut.
Rookie middle blocker Tanner Medina led the Bulldogs with three block assists and two service aces.
Mount Olive scored the first two points of the year and never trailed in the first set. The Trojans were only leading 7-5 before going on a 7-2 run to double up the lead, 14-7. MOC kept the momentum and won the opening tilt by 11.
A kill by Draughan provided Barton with the programs first ever lead at 3-2 in the second set. The Bulldogs kept clawing at Mount Olive but the hosts held off each rally before taking its largest at the end of the middle set by six, 25-19.
BC attempted to force a fourth set by holding a slim lead through most of the third before Mount Olive completed the sweep by breaking the 10th and final tie, 21-up, with four of the last five points to win by three. The Bulldogs led by two points four times in the final frame including as late as 17-15 on another Draughan kill.
The 2010 and 2011 Conference Carolinas Men's Volleyball Tournament Champion Trojans hit an impressive .372 en route to the victory while holding Barton to a .066 clip. The deep MOC squad had 10 players record kills.
Barton next plays King College in the MOC Festival on Friday at 7 p.m.
